Mind Games
Layers is well suited to reading groups because it explores identity, secrecy, family dysfunction, and the long-term psychological impact of hidden truths. Miranda, an adopted young woman who grew up believing her mother died in a car accident and that Dave was her father, begins to question the narrative she has accepted since childhood. As she searches for clarity about her past, she encounters conflicting accounts, concealed relationships, and motives shaped by jealousy, control, and fear.
The novel examines how family histories can be constructed, altered, or deliberately hidden, and how the search for truth can destabilise a person’s sense of identity. Through shifting perspectives and gradual revelations, Layers explores how power, sexuality, dependency, and manipulation can shape relationships over many years. The title reflects the psychological complexity of uncovering truths that have been concealed beneath socially acceptable versions of events.
Discussion questions
-
How does growing up with incomplete knowledge about her family affect Miranda’s sense of identity?
-
How does the belief that Dave is her father influence Miranda’s trust in him?
-
How does the novel portray the emotional consequences of adoption when key information is missing or withheld?
-
In what ways does secrecy function as a form of control within the story?
-
How do different characters attempt to reshape the narrative of the past?
-
How does the novel explore the psychological impact of betrayal within intimate relationships?
-
What role does jealousy play in shaping long-term decisions?
-
How does the story examine the consequences of relationships built on unequal power dynamics?
-
How do past relationships continue to influence present behaviour?
-
What role does manipulation play in maintaining control over others?
-
How does the novel explore the idea that truth can be hidden beneath socially acceptable explanations?
-
Which characters appear to act out of fear rather than intention?
-
How does the title Layers reflect both the structure of the story and the psychology of the characters?
-
Does the search for truth ultimately provide clarity, or create further instability?
-
How does the novel explore the relationship between dependency and control?
-
How do the characters justify morally questionable actions?
-
How does the novel portray the long-term consequences of decisions made earlier in life?
Themes
Identity and origin
Adoption and belonging
Family secrecy
Manipulation and control
Jealousy and possession
Unequal relationships
Psychological dependency
Constructed narratives
Hidden pasts
Power and vulnerability
Trust and betrayal
Sexuality and control
Truth and instability
Long-term consequences of secrecy
A serial killer taking the lives of young men is roaming the busy streets of Cape Town.
Are the murders just the evildoing of a religious lunatic or is a much more convoluted motive at stake? While DI Brite gets closer to the truth, ghosts from his past keep appearing. Solving the case is turning into an obsession weaving its way through his analytical mind. But is he up to the task or far too occupied with his connection to Isar Efra?
Circle is book two in the psychological thriller series Mind Games by A.G.R. Goff.
Circle is well suited to reading groups because it explores obsession, identity, violence, and the psychological pressure of pursuing truth in the middle of fear and uncertainty. Set in Cape Town, the novel follows DI Brite as he investigates the murders of young gay men while trying to determine whether the crimes are driven by religious extremism or by a more complex motive. As the case deepens, personal history and unresolved connections begin to shape both his thinking and his judgment.
The novel examines how obsession can sharpen perception while also distorting it, and how grief, memory, and personal attachment can influence the search for justice. Through mounting tension and gradual revelation, Circle explores the effect of fear, secrecy, sexuality, and psychological strain on decision-making and trust. The title reflects both the closed patterns of violence within the story and the sense of being drawn repeatedly back into questions, memories, and connections that resist resolution
Ema Efra doesn't give up. Ever. She lost everything—her parents, her boyfriend, her life. Starting in a different country seems to be the only option left. But when she's attacked and left for dead the search begins. Can she trust the people she calls friends, or is one of them connected to her past, out to destroy everything she has built?
Mirror is the third book in the Mind Games series and centers around Ema Efra and her decision to leave England after what happened in book one, Layers. Characters from book two, Circle, will reappear, which means an unexpected connection to South Africa is within reach.
Think you've come to know Ema well?
The sweet girl who weathered a tough upbringing, battled for survival, and even dared to fall in love against insurmountable odds? Think again. In the relentless pursuit of truth, the past inevitably catches up, and this time, it's Ema's turn to confront her inner darkness.
As the secrets of her past unravel, Ema is faced with the truth about how she arrived where she stands today and who truly stands beside her. Most importantly, she must grapple with the startling revelation of her own capabilities. In 'Stroke,' the gripping fourth installment of the 'Mind Games' series, the narrative delves even deeper into the shadows, delivering a darker and more electrifying tale than its predecessors. Ema's transformation and the unveiling of her true nature promise to captivate readers as they traverse a harrowing journey that cannot be missed.
In the heart-stopping finale of the "Mind Games" series, Ema Efra stands at the precipice of her destiny.South Africa's shadows conceal a cult steeped in violence and secrecy, its tendrils entwined with Ema's own lineage. As she unearths horrifying truths about her mother's killer, Ema must confront the darkness within herself.Bekka Wilford, the friend-turned-foe, now teeters on the edge of madness, clinging to power with blood-stained hands. But a new, sinister force threatens to expose the cult's twisted core of exploitation, putting innocent lives at stake.Ema faces an impossible choice: dismantle the vile institution that birthed her, or succumb to the intoxicating lure of control. As loyalties splinter and moral boundaries blur, she must decide: Will she flee from her legacy, fight against it, or embrace its dark crown?In "Apex," long-buried secrets claw their way to the surface, challenging everything Ema thought she knew about herself. With each page, the psychological tension ratchets higher, building to a shattering climax that will leave readers breathless.